Meet our two new board members + ways to get involved

Posted on Jun. 29, 2025  /  Member Highlights  /  Subscribe 0

By Savannah Driskill

PRSA Phoenix is proud to welcome two outstanding PR professionals to our board. We invite you to meet them and also learn about a few opportunities to get involved with our chapter.

Ashley Oakes – Chair, University Relations/New Pros

Ashley Oakes is a digital marketing professional with a diverse background spanning journalism, public relations, digital media marketing, and sales. She brings experience from both public and private sectors, having worked with a range of organizations across national and international markets.

Originally from Santa Barbara, California, Ashley graduated from Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism.

She enjoys exploring the Phoenix's vibrant food scene and attending local events on the weekends.

As University Relations/New Pros Chair, Ashley will help maintain and grow our chapter’s relationships with Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University and Grand Canyon University. She’ll also have a hand in planning events and opportunities for students and new pros to learn and grow in the industry. Get in touch with her at [email protected].

Rachel Dickman – Chair, Professional Development

Rachel Dickman, MBA, APR, the Founder and CEO of RMG Communications, is a nationally recognized leader in public relations and communications. With over two decades of experience, she masterfully blends creativity with strategy to deliver award-winning campaigns that resonate deeply and drive impact. At RMG, Rachel has notably worked with numerous public-sector and non-profit clients, earning her firm prestigious awards for their creativity and effectiveness, including "Best in Show" from PRSA-Inland Empire Chapter and CAPIO and a PRSA National Bronze Anvil. She also has deep knowledge of PRSA, having served as a Director at Large on the PRSA San Diego/Imperial Counties chapter board and as a Past President of the PRSA Inland Empire chapter.

Beyond her work at RMG, Rachel extends her influence through her co-hosted, award-winning podcast, "PRessing On in Public Relations," alongside her friend and business partner, Liselle DeGrave, APR. Together, they provide insightful commentary on PR, business, and life, infusing their discussions with both wisdom and humor. They also co-authored the prize-winning book "A Practical Guide to Starting Your Own PR Firm," an essential resource for those looking to navigate the intricacies of launching their own PR agency.

Rachel has been a featured guest on Good Morning San Diego and a regular guest on podcasts, where she imparts her knowledge on business and PR.

Her contributions to the field have been recognized with significant honors, including the Paul B. Clark Lifetime Achievement Award and the 2016 Communicator of the Year Award from the California Association of Public Information Officials.

As Professional Development Chair, Rachel will support the chapter’s efforts to help members grow in their careers through events and programs such as webinars, guest speakers, panels, mixers and more. Get in touch with Rachel at [email protected].

Looking to up your involvement with PRSA Phoenix?

Volunteering on a committee is a great way to get involved without committing to a full board position. We have many committees that help support our efforts:

• Professional Development committee – Meets once per month to plan activities/events throughout the year. Also helps with event brainstorming, planning and setup/tear down of events as schedules allow.
• Copper Anvils committee – This committee supports all aspects of the event, from award nomination process through event execution. Biweekly meetings are held in the lead up to the event.
• Communications committee – This committee creates and supports social media, website and blog content. 
  
  

We hope you’ll join us! To learn more, reach out at [email protected]. We can’t wait to meet you!

Current PRSA Phoenix Board

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